THE THIRD MESSAGE.—"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:9-12.
This is the last message of warning to mankind before the great and terrible day of the Lord. And though it contains the most terrible threatening of wrath to be found in the Bible, yet it is a merciful warning. It is a message of the gospel of salvation to men. Those who heed the warning will escape the threatened wrath, and have a part in the everlasting kingdom of God.
That it is the last message of mercy is evident from the fact that it is immediately followed by the appearing of the Son of man upon the white cloud with the sickle in his hand to reap the harvest of the earth, which is declared to be fully ripe. Under this figure is represented the second coming of Christ, "to give every man according as his work shall be." Again, from the fact that unmingled wrath upon those who disregard the warning follows, it is evident that mercy will be no longer offered. It closes forever the preaching of salvation to our fallen race.
This final warning is of the greatest importance to all living at the time of its fulfillment. It was promised in the prophecy 1800 years ago, so that when the time should come when it should be proclaimed, all believers in the word and work of God might have the assurance that the message is from Heaven—that it is the word of God, and not the word of men. The bare possibility that it is being fulfilled in our day should awaken the most earnest inquiry whether it is in reality being truly proclaimed, especially since there is a people in many nations of the earth who believe that the time is come, and that, while they heed the warning themselves, it is the special work, to which God in his providence has called them, to proclaim it to their fellow-men. This work is speedily spreading. Soon all who have ears to hear will be apprised of it; hence all should decide the question, "Is it from Heaven, or of men?"
The object of this warning is to prepare the people of God for the last scene of conflict and persecution. The latest power developed as one that shall persecute the people of God, is the image of the beast. Of this power, which is not yet fully developed, we have the prediction that "the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:15-17.
By comparing this with the warning of the third angel it will be seen that the message has direct reference to this persecution to the image of the beast; for it warns all, under the severest threatening, not to do the very things which the image of the beast says all shall do under severe penalties, even the penalty of death. The message is mercifully sent, before this severe trial is upon us, so that before the conflict shall come, we may by heeding it be prepared to stand. In great mercy the warning is given, that the trial may not come upon us unfortified and unprepared.
It will readily be seen that this message presents a test, a final test, concerning the worship of the beast and his image on the one hand, and the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus on the other. These things therefore are directly opposed to each other. If we worship the beast and his image, we shall not keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; and if we keep these commandments and this faith, we shall not worship the beast and his image. This gives the clue to the interpretation of the message. The work and the decrees of both the beast and his image will be found to be in opposition to what God has commanded. The grand question to be decided is, Which shall we obey?
We claim that the time has come that this message should be proclaimed, that it has been announced in the order given in the prophecy, that is, following the preaching of the first and second messages of the series, and that it is now going forth to the inhabitants of the earth. If this is so, the symbolical terms of the message are certainly understood. And again, if the terms of the message are truly understood, as we shall endeavor to show, this is an evidence that the time is come, and therefore that the message now being preached in this and many other countries, is the genuine fulfillment of the prophecy. And as it is unreasonable to suppose that God would denounce unmingled wrath against all who should do certain things expressed in symbolic language, and yet not give to all who desire it the means of knowing what those forbidden things are in reality, it is evident that all who sincerely desire to know the literal meaning of these symbols will be able to understand the warning message, so that by heeding it they may escape the impending wrath. Therefore we ask the candid attention of the reader, while we endeavor to define the terms and show the meaning of the message.
THE BEAST.
What are we to understand by the beast? The beast is described in Rev. 13:1-10. In harmony with Protestants generally we apply the term to the Roman popedom. In Dan. 7 four beasts were shown to the prophet, which were explained as representing four great kingdoms or empires of the earth. The best expositors are agreed that these four kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. The fourth beast had ten horns. This represented the Roman empire divided into ten kingdoms. Then another and diverse power arises, represented as "another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots." All this has been fulfilled in history. The Roman empire was divided into ten kingdoms, and then the papacy was established by the conquest of three of them.
By comparing the description given of the little horn with that of the beast of Rev. 13:1-10, it will be seen that they both represent the same power.
"1. The little horn was to be a blasphemous power. 'He shall speak great words against the Most High.' Dan. 7:25. So, also, was the beast of Rev. 13:6, to do the same. 'He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.'"
"2. The little horn 'made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.' Dan. 7:21. Thus the beast of Rev. 13:7, was also 'to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.'"
"3. The little horn had a 'mouth that spake very great things.' Dan. 7:8, 20. So, likewise, there was given the beast of Rev. 13:5, 'a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.'"
"4. Power was given the little horn of Dan. 7:25, 'until a time and times and the dividing of time.' To the beast, also, power was given to 'continue forty and two months.' Rev. 13:5."
"5. The dominion of the little horn was to be taken away at the termination of that specified period. The beast of Rev. 13:10, who led into captivity and put to death with the sword so many of the saints, was himself to be led into captivity and killed with the sword, at the end of the forty-two months."
"With these points of similarity in the two emblems, the little horn and the beast, who can doubt their identity?"
It is said that the dragon gave to the beast "his power, and his seat, and great authority." We learn from Rev. 12 that the dragon was the ruling power when Jesus Christ was born, and that was imperial Rome. It is a prediction of a most improbable event that a ruling power of the world should give his seat and power to another. But it was fulfilled in a most remarkable manner and with a convincing exactness. The emperor Constantine removed the seat of empire from Rome to Constantinople. Afterward another Roman emperor, Justinian, reigning at Constantinople, by his civil authority, clothed the pope with power as the head of the church, and established him in great authority in the ancient seat of empire, the city of Rome. Thus that remarkable prediction, apparently most unlikely to be realized, was strikingly fulfilled.
Minnesota Camp-Meeting.
By J. S. Olive
THIS meeting began on time, Wednesday evening, June 18. The attendance was very large. There were about one hundred tents, and over twenty covered wagons. Nearly fifteen hundred people were encamped on the ground. Persons were in attendance from five States and thirty-seven counties. Some came over two hundred miles with teams. Eleven ordained ministers and many licentiates were present.
Early Thursday morning, Eld. White and his wife, W. C. White and wife, and Eld. Olsen arrived on the ground, and were received with great joy. Nearly the whole burden of the meeting fell on Bro. and Sr. White, and the Lord seemed to give strength and freedom to his worn and weary servants to give to the waiting people the needed instruction and reproof. Many new converts had never before seen them, and they were truly thankful for the privilege.
Eld. Olsen held meetings with the Scandinavians during the intermissions, and preached twice in English to attentive and interested audiences. At nine o'clock Thursday morning, Sr. White gave a discourse which held all spell-bound. Her words seemed to penetrate to the very hearts of all who listened to her. Friday morning she gave a practical discourse to Adventists.
Friday afternoon two stirring temperance addresses were made by Bro. and Sr. White, after which ten individuals were appointed to secure signers to the teetotal pledge. A busy time intervened, and soon one hundred and ninety-one signatures were obtained, and the society was organized. The number of signers to the pledge was greatly increased on Sunday afternoon.
At 9:30 A. M. Sabbath, an immense model Sabbath-school was held, with thirty-seven classes and over three hundred scholars. W. C. White assisted in organizing; the arrangements were splendid considering the very limited time to prepare. Order and quiet prevailed. One little boy, not three years old, sat in his mother's lap and answered the questions in a clear, audible voice; and one young girl, fourteen or fifteen years old, repeated the entire synopsis of the lesson, without a break, in a voice so distinct as to be heard by the whole school. Several others stood up, prepared to repeat it; but she was the only one called upon. The whole exercise was very interesting.
After this came a forcible and impressive address from sister White, urging on parents the duty of studying the Scriptures themselves and teaching them to their children, as the best means of excluding the light and frivolous reading of the day, which is ruining so many. Bro. White then followed with a sermon, presenting the truth in a clear manner. He had help from the Lord to bring forth, out of the Scriptures, things both new and old.
Sabbath afternoon, after a solemn address by both Bro. and Sr. White, a call was made for those who desired a new conversion, deeper consecration to the work, and also to all who desired to make a start in the service of the Lord for the first time, to separate themselves from the congregation and show who was on the Lord's side. Seat after seat had to be vacated for those who pressed forward, with softened hearts and tear-dimmed eyes, to take their places as seekers after the grace and pardon offered by the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and many humble confessions were made, and heartfelt prayers offered up for forgiveness, and grace to help in time of need.
Sunday morning Bro. White spoke with great freedom on the reasons of our faith and hope. Sunday afternoon, Sr. White gave another discourse on temperance.
At the early morning meeting, Monday, some striking and interesting remarks were made by Sr. White on the duty of Christians to dress simply, discarding useless and vain ornaments, and trimmings, if they hope to please God and secure eternal life. A meeting of the T. and M. society was held at 9:30 A. M., at which over three hundred dollars were subscribed to the fund to get the society out of debt, and to create a reserve fund. The times have been so hard here for several years that it is not so easy to raise money as formerly.
In the afternoon, both Bro. and Sr. White spoke on the subject of baptism. After this another revival meeting was held, at which Sr. White made an earnest and solemn appeal to all to humble themselves and put away all their sins,—all impure and unholy thoughts, all envy and strife, and ambition for high positions in the church; to press together and seek a new conversion, a new consecration to God, an unction from on high. Then all bowed in prayer, and Sr. White lifted up her voice in a prayer that seemed to reach the heavens. A cloud had to some extent rested on the meeting. The ministers seemed backward and indifferent. But as Sr. W. delivered the straight testimony to them, reproving their faults, the Spirit gave conviction of sin. Fervent cries for pardon shook the audience, and the voice of weeping and supplication pervaded the entire assembly. Such a season of repentance and humiliation before the Lord is seldom seen. After the long season of fervent, prevailing prayer, the spirit of confession rested upon the ministers, and one after another they rose, and owned with deep feeling, that they had been in a backslidden condition, indifferent, and greatly lacking interest in the work.
There was no intermission from 2:30 P. M. until nearly 8 o'clock. It had been expected that the meeting would break up next morning, but it seemed now that it must continue over Tuesday. Eld. White urged all who could possibly do so, to stay over, and Eld. Grant announced that if any were compelled to leave on account of their means being exhausted, if they would make it known, their wants would be supplied. Some were obliged to go, but a large majority remained until Wednesday morning.
Tuesday morning there was a good social meeting, then the examination of candidates for baptism took place, soon after which twenty-seven were immersed in the waters of the beautiful lake. Some of them came out of the water with waving hands, triumphant voices, and glad faces. Among them was a lady nearly sixty years of age, in poor health, who had traveled over ninety miles in a farm wagon, with her son and daughter, to attend the meeting. Her children had recently embraced the truth; but she had never heard our faith preached before. She seemed to be ready to embrace the truth as soon as she heard it; left her pipe on the camp-ground, and went home rejoicing, with the determination to leave off coffee as well as tobacco. May the Lord bless her. She is in advance of some who have for years been in the truth.
After an interesting social meeting Wednesday morning, three ministers were ordained. The ceremony was very impressive. They fell upon one another's necks with weeping, as they were welcomed by all the ministers present, into the work.
After a few parting words from Sr. White, the meeting was dismissed. So closed the largest camp meeting ever held in Minnesota. We look back with mingled joy and grief to the hours spent there,—gratitude to God for the privilege enjoyed, and sorrow that such severe reproofs and humble confessions were needed. J. S. OLIVE.
The Missing Note.
By Ela Thomas
To have a passionate longing, and never be able to gratify it; to be forever mocked by a vision, thin and elusive; to have pleasure doled out in drops that intensify instead of quenching thirst; to stretch out aching hands in vain, and utter a cry that is unavailing; to see a fullness and richness of life, and yet be forever doomed to stand outside. Such, Mabel Hart was wont to bitterly moan to herself, was the portion that had been given her.
Poor Mabel! It is hard when the strong passion that thrills and sways our being only beats and bruises us against the unyielding walls of the inevitable. And Mabel's passion was music, and she was the third of a hard-working carpenter's six children. Small chance for gratifying her heart's craving. It had always been her delight. When a child, she would sit for hours listening to her mother's old hymns and ballads. Church-going was her delight; no deacon was more faithful in attendance. Not that she cared much for prayers and sermons that she could hardly comprehend; it was the singing. The first strains of "Hamburg," "Corinth," "Coronation" (for they kept the good old tunes in Deerfield), would lift her into a sweet, ecstatic rapture, heart swelling, pulses thrilling with the rhythm. Well might she love the hymns and anthems of the village choir, for it was almost the only music she had to exist upon; only now and then was there a concert by local amateurs, or professionals of limited ability. But such were red-letter days to her; every air was treasured up to be reproduced on the melodian at home. The old melodian, that had been her mother's in her girlhood, and seen service at the hands of the older children, till now, when it had reached Mabel, it was asthmatic of bellows and rheumatic of keys, thin and sharp of tone. It was really wonderful, so every one said, how she contrived to draw so much melody from the old instrument; but Mabel possessed to a rare degree the gift of touch, her fingers hovered over the keys with true and loving interest. So infused, even to her very finger-tips, with melody, it was small wonder that life in the low, brown house, with its noisy boys and round of common household tasks, seemed dull and cramped. With what unutterable longing she would watch the smoke of the passing trains speeding away from the little hill-shut village to the great world of songs, of concerts, of operas! Oh! for one taste of that full, free life, to be rapt by the swell of organ and chant, to thrill under the spell of the queens of song, who in all the land had no more loyal devotee than Mabel, who had never heard the sound of their sweet tones. But those were dreams, beautiful for very vagueness. A real want lay with the sharp edge of its unfulfillment heavy on her heart. A piano, for the old melodian had been patched and repaired, till at last, when through sheer old age one key failed entirely, further effort was pronounced useless. Mr. Hart and his wife often sighed over their inability to give Mabel fuller musical advantages, but times were dull and growing boys hungry. "Wait patiently, dear," the father would say. "You shall have a piano just as soon as I can afford it." But patient waiting was an unknown quantity to Mabel. Her great desire blinded her alike to the struggles of father, and needs of the family. Day by day she sighed and repined over the hardness of her fortune, drew comparisons between her and every one more favored, and bounded the world by the narrow horizon of her own wishes, till the fresh young life that should have been in every sense the music of the home became its discord. A weary look gathered on her mother's face as she heard the plaint that "every one but she could have what they wanted," that she was ashamed to play away from home for lack of practice, and she would not play for any one at home, that was certain. That poor old melodian's missing note, what did it not do? When Mr. Hart came home tired at night, it refused him his favorite songs, dismissed the children from their evening practice, and curtly told friends that "nothing would sound fit to be heard."
Among the most frequent visitors was "Friend" Milton, an old Quaker lady, loved by all not less for her kindliness of heart than the sweet, serene cheerfulness, as characteristic of her sect as the drab dress, falling in soft, straight folds, the snowy muslin inside kerchief, and the plain, close cap, that, crowning the smooth, silvery hair, shaded eyes as keen as they were kindly. Mabel's growing discontent and fretfulness had not escaped her notice. More than once her needles had clicked faster for some sharp word or sullen look, but she said nothing, till one day, being alone in the room when Mabel threw aside some new music she had been trying, with an angry exclamation, she laid down her knitting with, "My dear, thee knows we make little account of worldly music; still, I am sorry thy instrument troubles thee, but more grieved that the note of a peaceful heart and quiet spirit is lacking in thee, for the want of which thee is forgetting all thy blessings of life and health and friends, and making thyself and thy home wretched." And Friend Milton, having obeyed the "leading of the inward spirit" to "bear testimony," returned to her placid knitting.
As for Mabel, her face flushed with mingled anger and mortification. But, after all, hers was a fine, earnest nature, and the simple words had been a sharp probe. She sought her own room and knelt down by the open window. "Making thyself and thy home wretched," rang in her ears. Was it indeed true, she asked herself, that her life-bell had become a jarring discord? Outside, the May sunshine through the early green of the trees, flecked the fresh sward and sweet flower faces clustering below. A pair of robins were chirping in a maple beside her window. But a storm the night before had shaken down their completeness, and the orchard grass was white with blossom petals beaten down. She had noted before the birds at their work of building another nest, and the apple trees shorn of their fragrant beauty; but now a new light came to her, and through it she read a hitherto hidden lesson of sweet endurance and cheerful patience. The robin was chirping over his task, and for those scattered blossoms she knew golden fruit would gather the rich juices of sun and earth. Simple instinct, inanimate nature, accepted disappointment and loss, and should she, intelligent, Christian, as she had thought, rebel? The world was full of melody, full brooks could be heard rippling, winds were whispering, and every tree was vocal with sweet bird songs. Should she alone be out of harmony? Long she knelt at that window, and struggled with the tumult of feeling, that left her eyes wet and her heart sore, for life never looked drearer than that day. Cramped, fettered, bound to a tread-mill round of distasteful duties, shut from all delight—must, could she be patient, cheerful, joyful? But hers was a brave, spirit; true enough to pierce through the tissue of selfish desire, brave enough, having seen the right, to give herself to walk therein, though no eyes save the bright ones of the robins saw the tears it cost, and not even they heard the prayer for daily help for daily need.
And was it all easy, then? By no means. There were hasty words to be strangled, repining thoughts to be hushed, vain wishes to be forbidden entrance. Many a time she faltered, weary, almost discouraged; but the brooding robin in her downy nest, the swelling orchard fruit, and, above all, Friend Milton's cheery, "Thee must not weary in well-doing," were an elixir of courage. Gradually, so imperceptibly they hardly knew when, a new atmosphere became felt in the house. The mother found her tasks lightened by cordial interest and sympathy; the boys to find home more pleasant than outside attractions, and some of the careworn lines faded from the father's face.
So the summer and autumn passed; the robins' fledglings had grown strong, and left the old nest in the maples for Southern orange groves; the apples, golden and russet, were gathered into winter's store. It was Mabel's eighteenth birthday, a dull day in November. Friend Milton had dropped in with her knitting, and Mabel sat humming little snatches of song over her long seam, when with noisy jolting a loaded dray drew up at the door. A great thrill of mingled wonder and hope and fear flushed Mabel's face as the cumbersome package was lifted off, and she turned to her mother for explanation, only to meet the smiling answer, "Wait and see." The suspense, however, was not long till the cover lifted off revealed the polished rosewood case within.
"There, Mabel," said her mother, who had entered. "I always said you should have a piano as soon as I could afford it. I did not say anything, for fear I could not get it this year; but that job of Squire Lewes's brought me just enough."
The fine instrument was soon in position, and, sitting down in the very place where she had so often thrummed the old melodian, Mabel swept the shining keys with a touch tremulous with the excitement of joy.
"Is it not perfect?" she cried. "Every chord so pure and clear. I never dreamed to have so fine a one. No more discords or missing notes."
"Yes," said Friend Milton, in a tone that no one else heard in the happy tumult, "but the note thee hast found in thy heart is the sweetest music of all."
—Ela Thomas, in Christian at Work.
Chatham, Ontario.
Our tent meetings are creating great excitement in this city at present. Elder Battisby, D. D., Presbyterian minister, advertised to speak on the Christian Sabbath a week ago last Sunday. Our congregation all attended. We took notes, and announced a review for last Sunday at 3 P. M. He took several positions, in which he contradicted himself, and presented a very weak argument to sustain the Sunday Sabbath. The people turned out en masse to hear the review. The capacity of our tent was altogether insufficient for the accommodation of the crowd. The evening following the review, we spoke on the change of the Sabbath. Since then, have been speaking on the prophecies. Some have accepted the truth. One of these is a lady whose mother was a sister of Dr. Adam Clarke, she herself having been a missionary and public speaker for many years; and now in her old age she rejoices in the light of present truth.
She is an accomplished scholar in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages.
I will also mention another case, that of a young colored man, a fine classical scholar, who has been for two years a teacher in a university in Demarara, South America, and who has first-class letters of recommendation from men high in authority there. He left his home in South America to go to Toronto to take a medical course of study. While in Baltimore, Maryland, he was robbed of his money, and left destitute of means in a strange land. He had only his clothing and about $150 worth of books left. He came to this place, where he had some friends who were favorable to our views; he attended our meetings, and has accepted the truth. He is now anxious to attend our college at Battle Creek for a year, and learn more of the truth and the workings of the cause, and then return to South America and preach the third angel's message. He reads and speaks the French language, as well as all the dead languages. Have we not some brethren who will aid this young man in preparing himself for usefulness in the Master's cause? We request the prayers of God's people for the work in Ontario.
JOHN W. MOORE.
F. T. WALES.
July 1.
Boone, Watauga Co., N. C.
By C. O. Taylor
ON coming to this place I find some reading matter which has been sent to be distributed. Many thanks. I can give away, to good advantage, all that friends wish to send. I find here, in Watauga Co., four families keeping the Sabbath. They have taken a firm stand on all the commandments of God, simply from reading. Their influence in favor of the truth is good. They have done what they could in sending out reading matter, and it has created a desire to hear. It prepares the way in this section for me to speak to the people. Many are quite fully convinced that we are right on the Sabbath. Those friends that have sent our publications to Bro. Hodges and223others to be distributed, will not lose their reward.
Any who have reading matter which they would like to dispose of in a way to be doing good, can send it here directed to L. P. Hodges.
I find a much larger opening to speak the truth in this part of the State than I expected. I had supposed my labors would be confined to this county, but already through the kindness of a friend whose mind is much awakened to the Sabbath and other truths held by us, appointments have been given out in other counties for several weeks ahead. From present observations, I think this may be the best field of labor I have seen in the South. I shall do all I can to get the truth before the people.
June 23. C. O. TAYLOR.
The Home Circle.
By Alice Cary
SPENT AND MISSPENT.
Stay yet a little longer in the sky,
O golden color of the evening sun!
Let not the sweet day in its sweetness die,
While my day's work is only just begun.
Counting the happy chances strown about
Thick as the leaves, and saying which was best,
The rosy lights of morning all went out,
And it was burning noon, and time to rest.
Then leaning low upon a piece of shade,
Fringed round with violets and pansies sweet,
My heart and I, I said, will be delayed,
And plan our work while cools the sultry heat.
But when the idle pleasure ceased to please,
And I awoke, and not a plan was planned,
Just as a drowning man, at what he sees,
Catches for life, I caught the thing at hand,
And so life's little work-day has been all
Spent, and misspent in doing what I could,
And in regrets and efforts to recall
The chance of having, being, what I would.
And so sometimes I cannot choose but cry,
Seeing my late-sown flowers are hardly set—
O darkening color of the evening sky,
Spare me the day a little longer yet!
—Alice Cary.
Reports from the Field.
By J. G. Matteson
Christiana, Norway.
WE have now held ten meetings in our new hall. We have seats for about five hundred persons. I have commenced a course of lectures on the prophecies. There is a fair attendance and a growing interest; but it is not so easy to gather the people in the warm summer-time as in the winter. The summer season is short in this country, and as the city people have a peculiar love for nature, they enjoy the fresh air, and seek recreation out of doors when their week’s toil is ended.
We have a baptistery in the hall. Twenty-five willing souls have been buried in baptism, and others will soon be ready. These, with our brethren and sisters that have come to us from the Baptist denomination, have united, and thus form a church of commandment-keeping believers. We have difficulties to overcome, and trials to endure; but the Lord is with us, and his blessings make up for all losses.
The days are very long; in fact, there is no night in this city now. The sun rises about 2:40 A. M., and sets 9:20 P. M., and the day-light continues all night. We can read print any time of the night, in the house, when it is clear weather.
I am thankful for the prospect of soon obtaining some help in this work. It has been no small task to start so many enterprises alone, and to get them in proper shape. Besides the preaching, and visiting as far as I can reach, there is a constant correspondence to keep up, and a paper (Tidernes Tegn) to write for, besides arranging for an office of our own. Last, but not least, comes our building enterprise, which can prosper only through the blessing of God and diligent attention. Then I am treasurer for the whole concern, and keep all the books.
The repairing and fitting up of our house has cost us about $373.33. The whole amount that has been received and paid out or deposited during the two last months is over $750, besides private accounts.
It will be a great relief for me to have the help of a few faithful friends, and the cause needs it, that we may work out into a larger sphere by the help of God.
June 10. J. G. MATTESON.
Wakeman, Ohio.
By H. A. St. John; A. M. Mann
SINCE former report we have baptized ten. The membership of the society when we pitched our tent here was thirteen; the present number is thirty-seven, making an increase of twenty-four. There are others keeping the Sabbath, nine at least, and some of these we hope yet to bring into the fold. The Sabbath-school numbers fifty-two. Have sold about twenty dollars' worth of publications, and obtained several subscribers for our periodicals. A club of nineteen Instructors is taken for the Sabbath-school. Receipts above expenses, $7.27.
Had our last meeting in the tent on Monday. It was our fixed purpose, even at this time, to move immediately to Cleveland. After the sermon, which was upon practical subjects, several who had not done so before expressed their purpose to at once erect the family altar. Six presented themselves to unite with the church, and were accepted. One desired baptism, and another expressed a determination henceforth to keep the Lord's holy Sabbath. Then we had a blessed season of communion. After all these tokens for good, our minds were still fixed on Cleveland. So at the close of this meeting we took down our tent, packed it, and took it to the depot, intending to ship it the next morning. One more was baptized after striking the tent. But that night we suffered much from this decision, and could get no rest until we decided to remain longer. Early next morning we hastened five miles to the depot and delayed the tent. Meetings begin on Thursday night, within four miles of the former site.
H. A. ST. JOHN.
A. M. MANN.
Whitewater, Mich.
By J. Sisley; William Potter
WE pitched our tent in this community, six miles south of Elk Rapids, for the purpose of holding a few meetings with those who embraced the truth last winter. We have held meetings here for two weeks. God has blessed our effort. Not only have our brethren here been encouraged and strengthened, but those who met with us at our general meeting, June 21, 22, shared the same blessing, and returned to their homes fully determined to live nearer to the Lord.
Eld. Fargo was with us at our general meeting. Sunday, the 21st, twelve were buried in baptism, in the clear water of Elk Lake. One of these was a lady who for eight years had opposed the truth. Last night six took their stand with us, three of them being men nearly eighty years old.
J. SISLEY.
WM. POTTER.
June 30.
Good Health.
Carelessness of Health.
Carelessness of health is a common and crying sin. It is not merely a misfortune—it is more than an evil—it is a great and terrible crime. Sickness imposes burdens upon the race greater than we can estimate. Not only do loss of time, labor, and money, with poverty, want, orphanage, and distress, result from sickness; but despondency, murmuring, repining, and complaining, with bitter and selfish thoughts, perpetually spring up from physical disease.
Health and happiness are nearly related to each other. When one is lost, the other frequently departs. Hence health, as well as happiness, is a Christian duty, and this is none the less important because it is so little understood. Ignorance of this duty leaves men to pursue, without restraint or hesitation, such courses of imprudence, indulgence, and excess, as, with all the certainty of mathematical sequence, lead to infirmity, imbecility, bodily disease, and premature dissolution.
Sickness is the result of sin. It may be personal or ancestral sin; it may be sin in ourselves or sin in others around us; it may be something which we can or cannot avoid or remedy; but the root of all sickness is sin in some form. When there was no sin, there was no sickness; and in the new world, when sin is ended, pain and sorrow will flee away. All unrighteousness is sin. Sin is lawlessness; it is the spirit of insubordination to wholesome rule, which defies authority, and indulges in forbidden things. And from inordinate appetites, unbridled lusts, excessive labors, imprudent exposures, and various infractions of physical and mental laws, through passions, stimulation, or uncontrolled desire, the human constitution is unbalanced and undermined, and the result is disease; the end, death!
Such self-imposed infirmities are disgraceful to men, and dishonorable to God. It is a disgrace to a man to unfit himself for the highest possibilities of his nature, by gluttony, by intemperance, by sensuality, or by any excess. It is a dishonor to God to abuse and dishonor the workmanship of his hands, and render it unfit for use.
The glory of a workman is in the perfection of his work. A watch continually out of order, and requiring perpetual repairs, disgraces the man who made it and palmed it upon the world. A machine which does its work improperly, and requires constant tinkering, is a disgrace to the inventor who drafted it, and the mechanic who constructed it.
A healthy, vigorous, upright, noble man, "so fearfully and wonderfully made," and fulfilling all his various functions and duties with celerity and ease, is an honor to that Creator whose wondrous power has formed so goodly a frame. But a sickly, wretched, disordered, distorted, murmuring, repining invalid, is a reproach to Him in whose image man was created.
Much of the disease and pain which afflict mankind is the result of the sheerest carelessness. It is easily avoidable, and hence it is wrong. An ambitious boy tries to do the work of a man, and is praised for it by greedy and heartless employers, who, for a few hours' labor, allow him to make himself a wretched, life-long invalid. A young girl exposes herself to wet and cold, and prides herself on her bravery and courage; but long years of pain and feebleness, and the sorrows of a ruined and shipwrecked life, teach her how foolishly she has cast away the glory of her strength. A sudden strain, a needless exertion, a hard day's work done through seeming necessity, or faithlessness, or parsimony, often lay the foundation for years of distress, which only terminate in the quiet of the grave.
An aged person, with life enough to last a score of years with careful usage, in some hasty effort, or special labor, breaks down in a day, and goes with all his ripe experience, wise counsel, and life-long care, to his death-bed and his grave, in an effort to accomplish some trifling matter, or save a few shillings of expense.
Such carelessness of health is a crime. To be dependent on others when we should be strong and support the weak; to be sick and burdensome when we should be full of health and helpfulness; to spend our days in sadness and repinings, when our lives should be full of strength, and joy, and courage; to come to the grave in our brown hair, plucked from life like fruit unripe, instead of like a shock of corn fully ripe, crowned with years and full of blessings; and to do this by our own sins, and fault, and carelessness, surely this is a grievous crime. And yet thousands are thus guilty every day, and many of them are persons whose years should have taught them wisdom.
Let Christians consider that life and strength are a God-given, holy trust. Let them beware how they trifle with such priceless treasures. Let them cherish life and improve it as a heavenly favor, that it may be well with them, and that their days may be long upon the earth.—The Christian.
Amity, Kansas.
By J. H. Cook
OUR meetings here, June 28-30, were profitable. The members appear to be growing. There is a marked improvement among the young, and in the Sabbath-school department. Two were added to the church. There is now quite a company of believers here, where a little over two years ago there was not a Sabbath-keeper in the neighborhood. J. H. Cook.